Back Page Betting: Weekend Wagers

After a predictably slow start to the season we are up and running with these weekend wagers. Last week’s tip for a sending off in the Midlands derby between Aston Villa and West Brom paid out at a very tasty 4.7 on Betfair. Elsewhere we were unlucky with Chelsea having two men sent off in the first half, which killed our bet of over 2.5 goals and a Chelsea win. Despite this, we made a nice profit on the weekend meaning that four of the last five weekends have made our wallets a little bit heavier. Once again cementing this column as the place to come for winning tips.

This week we have a nice opportunity to capitalise on Man United’s quite hilarious 6-1 drubbing at the hands of their noisy neighbours by taking advantage of an overreaction in the market. United are currently priced at 5/6 to beat Everton at Goodison on Saturday, but I’m not sure that price will last long. ‘Sralex’s’ men will have been on the wrong end of a few choice words after last week’s embarrassment and you can be sure they will be out to make a statement. With rested players to come in since their midweek Carling Cup tie at Aldershot they will be a lot fresher than an Everton side who battled through extra time on Wednesday, and are missing the impressive Royston Drenthe in midfield. I’m taking United at 5/6 (widely available… for now!).

Next up it’s Norwich v Blackburn in a game that both sides will feel they can win. Again, Norwich will be the fresher of the two after Blackburn’s wobble and subsequent need for extra time in their midweek fixture with Newcastle. The Canaries can and do create chances as they have showed on a number of occasions this term, not least in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool. Those chances will again be forthcoming against a sketchy Blackburn defence this week. In the interests of balance it must be noted that Norwich’s defence is also prone to conceding and their refreshing willingness to attack when at home has seen them fail to register a clean sheet in their opening four home fixtures. Blackburn, on the other hand have scored in each of their away fixtures so far this season. In short, there will be chances, there should be goals, and now I’ve said that it’ll almost certainly be 0-0 at full time. Nonetheless I’m backing the stats and going with over 2.5 goals in this one at a best priced 10/11 (Widely available).

The final bets of the weekend come as the mightily impressive Man City renew rivalries with Wolves after battering them 5-2 in Wednesday’s Carling Cup fixture. City have been scoring for fun this season but a notable statistic is that there have been more goals in the second half in eight of their nine games this season. Indeed, their four home games have averaged a total of three goals in the second half. Backing the second half as the highest scoring half at 11/10 with Stan James is value of the highest order. An even more cheeky approach, and certainly the value of the weekend is to get on Man City at -2 goals in the second half handicap. This is top price 9/2 with Coral and looks like a very sound bet indeed.